Michael Chammas

Never have two words been so fitting to describe the dawn of a new era, but the end is what it was on Wednesday night.

Blues halfback Trent Hodkinson puts boot to ball in the second State of Origin match against Queensland. Photo: Wolter Peeters

It was the end of a reign of supremacy rugby league may never again witness. It was the end of NSW's misery.

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It was also the end of NSW's search for a No.7, with Trent Hodkinson answering the calls for a saviour, scoring the series winning try and goal to send ANZ Stadium into raptures following a memorable 6-4 win.

He ran once in game one. And for 71 minutes in game two, he'd again only challenged the line on one occasion.

Greg Bird and Cameron Smith square off against each other. Photo: Anthony Johnson

But it was a case of third time lucky for the rugged Bulldogs playmaker, dummying his way past Ben Te'o and Daly Cherry-Evans to take his place in Origin folklore.

Hodkinson then showed nerves of steel to slot the conversion to give NSW a long awaited series victory.

It took eight years but they finally did it.

For the first time since July 6, 2005, the state of NSW can finally wallow in the misery of those north of the border.

It was the script to what Queensland fairytales are made of.

Injuries, uncertainty and the underdog tag.

The very concoction that has fuelled so many backs-against-the-wall type victories for the Maroons over the past three decades.

The Blues, bound together by heartache and tragedy - undertook a mission that 70 players that donned the sky blue before them over eight and a bit years have failed to accomplish.

Having won their first game at Suncorp Stadium in five years just three weeks ago, the Blues found themselves in an all too familiar predicament.

NSW led the series 1-0 last year only to get their pants pulled down in game two and eventually lost another series following a loss on home soil in the decider.

But this time was different.

This time they had a chance to win the series in front of 83,421 success-starved New South Welshman.

This time there was no Cooper Cronk, no Corey Parker.

This time Billy Slater, Greg Inglis and Daly Cherry-Evans were all walking wounded.

Just as the Morris twins did in game one, Will Hopoate brushed aside an arm injury to play on through the pain barrier to finish the match.

It was a penalty against Greg Bird in the ruck gave the Maroons first points of the match after 14 minutes courtesy of a penalty goal to Thurston.

It was a forearm to the head of Nate Myles from James Tamou that gifted Thurston another two points in the 30th minute, surpassing Mal Meninga's record of 161 for most points in Origin history.

Traling 4-0 at half time, the Blues would've been ordered to lift the tempo, but on the first hit up of the second half, Anthony Watmough dumped Myles on his head with a tackle that could see him miss Origin III.

The Maroons looked to have doubled their lead when Sam Thaiday burrowed his way over from close range, however the hand of Hayne knocked the ball free in the nick of time to deny the Queensland lock.

Queensland then suffered a huge setback with Brent Tate leaving the field with a leg injury after a tackle from Ryan Hoffman in the 57th minute, forcing a reshuffle with Chris McQueen moving to the right wing.

With eight minutes remaining, it looked as though it would be the lowest scoring Origin game since Queensland's 2-0 win at the Sydney Football Stadium in game one of the 1995 series.

However Hodkinson's decision to run the ball after five consecutive sets attacking the Maroons line proved a masterstroke, splitting Cherry-Evans and Ben Te'o to score one of NSW's most important tries in 101 Origin games.

Controversy followed from the ensuing kick-off, with replays showing Aaron Woods might have got a touch to a ball that sailed over the dead ball line, presenting NSW with a penalty at half way.

But the Blues held their nerve in the final stages to seal a historic win.

71 comments so far

They weren't head butts, the refs must have been watching the Soccer World Cup. Love JT as a guy, not sure what he was thinking to go with the elbow. Refs let too much crap stuff go unpunished, the game didn't have the momentum of game 1.

Commenter

p

Location

mackay

Date and time

June 18, 2014, 11:22PM

As a long time avoider of the SOO, I watched the second half with wide eyed shock and horror at such an appalling collection of tactics, ball handling and sportsmanship. To my old fashioned eyes there was none of any on display.

When a League game languishes at 4 - 0 for most of the play and the main tactic is running straight at the thickest group of players there is little wonder the media hype becomes the major source of the spectacle.

Roy and HG would have been ashamed.

Commenter

Game Match Farce

Date and time

June 19, 2014, 6:42AM

The niggling spectacle we all witnessed last night is as a direct consequence of the no punching rule.

If the lads could have got it out of their system with a few dust-ups in the first 10-15 minutes they then would have settled down and played footy rather than going on with the niggle for the whole game. After a punch-up or two the refs should just lay down the law and say the next one goes to the bin; that usually sorts them out.

As a policy bloke, I know first hand that putting forward a policy proposal always comes with unintended consequences, and the niggle last night is evidence.

We've got a little bit precious me thinks.

Commenter

Canberra Sea Eagle

Date and time

June 19, 2014, 8:45AM

Game match farce - Roy and HG love blokes like you.

Commenter

CL

Date and time

June 19, 2014, 12:23PM

What a disappointing and awful game. When the first match was so brilliant and tense and exciting the build up to this game offered Rugby League a chance to win some new fans with some great footy. Unfortunately the refs put away the whistle and allowed the game to descend into a messy free for all filled with niggle and tactics that would never be allowed in an NRL game, with virtually no real football played...somebody (the referees?) should be made accountable and hung out to dry for last nights debacle.

Commenter

Soot

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 19, 2014, 12:26PM

Canberra Sea Eagle

Yep, big guys not being allowed to punch one another was the cause. Or the ref could have sin binned the offenders - particularly all the elbows in the face - in the first 10 minutes and it would have stopped.

If you want punching watch MMA; if you want rugby then watch rugby.

Commenter

wear the fox hat

Date and time

June 19, 2014, 12:33PM

Well done blues, you'll never get a better opportunity than that to win a series. Good to see your hopes are high & your spirits are up. I hope you recognise Hoffman's game, he has been your best. Bring on next year, we'll be itching to square up a few scores....

Commenter

Galisacat.....

Date and time

June 18, 2014, 11:29PM

Hoffman was outstanding and I don't recall his name thrown up by any journalists as a probable squad member before the team was picked for Game 1.

Commenter

Bifta

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 19, 2014, 10:38AM

No waiting for next year! I'm hoping QLD settle a few scores in Game 3.

Commenter

Bifta

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 19, 2014, 10:42AM

We win the series and Mitchell Pearce isn't playing. Who would have thought?